By Julius Peter
The Head of Marketing at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria (PSIN), Ladein Inerikuma S., has described Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, CON, MNI, as a woman of integrity, compassion, hard work and strong faith whose career in public service was driven by a genuine desire to serve humanity.
Ladein made the remarks yesterday at the presentation of Walson-Jack’s two books, I Planted: A Memoir of Purposeful Service and Beyond the Mandate: A Memoir of Leadership, Legacy and the Labour of Public Service.
Speaking at the well-attended book presentation, Ladein praised Walson-Jack for what he described as her godly heart and exceptional concern for the wellbeing of people around her.
He said her personality was defined not only by her professional competence but also by her compassion, integrity, humility and commitment to helping others.
According to him, Walson-Jack is a woman who cares deeply about people and has consistently demonstrated a strong sense of responsibility in her dealings with colleagues, friends and members of the public.
He noted that her dedication to duty and fear of God had contributed significantly to the respect she earned throughout her years in public service.
Ladein further emphasised that Nigeria would continue to need the wealth of experience, wisdom and intellectual capacity accumulated by Walson-Jack over the course of her career.
He expressed confidence that her retirement from active public service would open another chapter for her to make even greater contributions to national development.
“Nigeria needs her wisdom and intellectual capacity. I believe that after her retirement, she will go higher. I wish her well and pray to God to continue to bless her with good health so that she can continue with her good work,” he said.
The two books presented at the ceremony provide an opportunity for Walson-Jack to document and reflect on her experiences, challenges, achievements and lessons from a distinguished career in public service.
The first book, I Planted: A Memoir of Purposeful Service, focuses on her journey of service and the values that shaped her professional life. The second, Beyond the Mandate: A Memoir of Leadership, Legacy and the Labour of Public Service, reflects on leadership, institutional responsibility, public administration and the enduring legacy of service.
The publications are expected to provide valuable lessons for public servants, administrators, policymakers and younger Nigerians aspiring to leadership positions.
Beyond documenting her personal journey, the books also serve as an opportunity to preserve institutional experiences and lessons that could benefit future generations of public officers.
The event attracted an impressive gathering of prominent Nigerians from government, politics, the traditional institution and the public service.
Among those present was former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, alongside his wife, Dame Patience Jonathan. Governors, ministers, permanent secretaries, traditional rulers and other senior stakeholders also attended the ceremony.
Their presence added significance to an occasion that was not only a book presentation but also a celebration of Walson-Jack’s years of service and contribution to Nigeria’s public administration.
The gathering provided an avenue for colleagues, associates and dignitaries to reflect on the importance of integrity, competence, compassion and purposeful leadership in the public service.
For Ladein, Walson-Jack’s story represents an example of how professionalism can be combined with humanity and a commitment to the welfare of others.
He expressed optimism that the former public servant would continue to contribute to society, particularly through her wealth of knowledge, leadership experience and intellectual capacity.
The tributes at the event highlighted the view that retirement from government service should not be regarded as the end of public service. Rather, it can mark the beginning of a new phase in which experienced professionals can deploy their knowledge and networks to mentor younger people, support institutions and contribute to national development.
As Walson-Jack begins this new chapter, the goodwill expressed at the book presentation reflects the high regard in which she is held by colleagues and stakeholders who interacted with her during her years of service.
The presentation of I Planted and Beyond the Mandate therefore served as both a celebration of the past and a bridge to the future, documenting the lessons of a public service career while inspiring continued contributions to society.
With prayers for good health and greater accomplishments, Ladein and other participants at the event expressed confidence that Walson-Jack still has much to offer Nigeria, particularly through her wisdom, experience and intellectual capacity.
